Federal prosecutors are saying overtly for the first time that the man charged with killing 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue did so because he’s antisemitic and his intended victims were Jewish.

In one post, Bowers wrote that “jews are the children of satan.” In a post on Oct. 10, Bowers referred to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and Jewish congregations hosting refugee-related events.

“Why hello there HIAS! You like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? We appreciate the list of friends you have provided.”

Before entering the synagogue, Bowers posted to Gab: “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”

Gab has faced criticism for catering to racists, neo-Nazis and others on the far-right fringe and hate movements. An analysis by Hatewatch after Bowers’ arrest in October showed that Bowers frequently reposted content from influential alt-right accounts including those of Jared Wyand, an anti-immigration and antisemitic activist, and Bradley Dean Griffin, a white nationalist who runs the website Occidental Dissent.

A state jury convicted Fields of multiple counts of first-degree murder in December. He’s awaiting formal sentencing. A jury recommended a sentence of life in prison plus 419 years.

The use of the hate crimes laws allows federal prosecutors to seek a death sentence for Bowers if he’s convicted.

The Bowers case as well as the Fields case are part of an increase in the use of the death penalty under the Trump administration, according to the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel, which monitors death penalty cases.

Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Department of Justice has approved seeking capital punishment in at least two dozen cases. In the final term of President Barack Obama, the Justice Department approved only one capital punishment prosecution – Roof’s.